Summary: WHAT THE DEVIL WANTS CHRISTIANS TO DO TO UNDERMINE THEIR CHURCH, WITHOUT HIS EFFORT.

31: And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat:

32: But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.

33: And he said unto him, Lord, I am ready to go with thee, both into prison, and to death.

34: And he said, I tell thee, Peter, the cock shall not crow this day, before that thou shalt thrice deny that thou knowest me.

1. THERE IS A DEVIL

- FALLEN ANGEL

- SINS OF REBELLION AND PRIDE

- CONTINUALLY FIGHTING GOD AND HIS WORK

- MIGHTY, BUT NOT ALMIGHTY

- ENTIRELY EVIL… HEADS UP ALL EVIL IN THE WORLD

 THE BIBLE TELLS US HE EXISTS!

 OUR OWN LIVES AND EXPERIENCES TELL US HE EXISTS!

 WE DON’T GO VERY FAR DOWN THE ROAD OF LIFE BEFORE WE MEET HIM!

 HE TEMPTS US… AND DOES EVERYTHING HE CAN TO TEAR US DOWN.

MODERN (LIBERAL) “THINKERS”(?) SCOFF AT THE IDEA OF A LITERAL DEVIL.

WHAT QUALIFIES THEM TO MAKE SUCH A JUDGMENT? THEY ARE UNSAVED… AND THE BIBLE SAYS THE UNSAVED ARE UNABLE TO DISCERN SPIRITUAL THINGS.

ASK YOURSELF THIS…

IF THERE’S NO DEVIL… WHO’S RESPONSBLE FOR ALL THE EVIL IN THE WORLD? GOD? NOT MY GOD!

 IF THERE’S NO MASTERMIND OF EVIL…

 WHO’S BEHIND ALL THE WAR IN THE WORLD?

 WHO’S BEHIND ALL THE POLITICAL GARBAGE?

 WHO’S BEHIND GREED?

 WHO’S BEHIND THE LUST AND SIN? THE SELFISHNESS?

 WHO’S THE CAUSE OF JEALOUSY AND HATRED IN OUR HEARTS?

 WHO HAS BEEN MAINLY RESPONSIBLE FOR THE BREAKDOWN OF THE FAMILY UNIT THAT GOD PRESCRIBED FOR MAN IN HIS WORD?

 IS THE DEVIL REAL?

 ASK EVE

 ASK JOB

 ASK JESUS

 ASK ANY MAN WHO HAS TRIED TO LIVE FOR GOD AND CONTRIBUTE TO HIS WORK

2. THE DEVIL DESIRES THAT EVERY SOUL WOULD END UP IN A LITERAL BURNING HELL… WITH HIM!

SOME MEN SAY, “ SATAN NEVER TEMPTS ME!”… AND PRESENT THEMSELVES TO THE WORLD AND TO THEIR BROTHERS AND SISTERS AS SOME MEGA-PIOUS, “HOLIER-THAN-THOU” “SAINT”… A SAINT WHO ENDS UP LEADING THOSE FOLKS INTO MORE TROUBLE THAN THEY COULD POSSIBLY HAVE GOTTEN THEMSELVES INTO!

SOME MEN SAY, “ SATAN NEVER TEMPTS ME!”…

MAYBE THAT’S BECAUSE HE ALREADY HAS YOU IN HIS CLUTCHES, AND DOESN’T NEED TO WORRY ABOUT YOU.